Trainee buyer Work Back Agreement

I really didn't want to blog about this...but it seems my heart is shoving my head out the room and typing freely at will. The following message goes out to all the wannabe buyers and planners out there that find themselves with a piece of paper needing a signature, a signature that you really don't feel that comfortable signing; THE WORK BACK AGREEMENT.

I have been in this position and managed to get out albeit a few scratches, but my heart goes out to the Bambi eyed fashion lovers out there who just sign anything to be part of something.

In South Africa, I worked at one of the top fashion houses, I will not be mentioning names. As a young and naive, eager, bright eyed fashionista... Buying was just up my alley and so I applied to be a trainee buyer.

I went through a series of interviews, three to be exact. They wanted me and I wanted to be there.

I felt so fortunate to be given the opportunity to be selected as a trainee buyer, in my third interview, HR mentioned there was a work back agreement, I was barely listening and at that point I would have signed my life over just to get the position.I was going t be a trainee buyer at the top fashion company in South Africa, nothing could deter me. The new group of freshly hired trainees had a big surprise, we would be the first group to sign a work back agreement, as with the previously hired group of newbies; this had never been the case.

Big Mistake, always read the fine print, always be sure you know what you are signing.

Companies implement work back agreements for various reasons, in my opinion in this case, there were tons of people applying for the position, companies invest a lot of time and money with new trainees and the last thing they want is for you to take the knowledge and go somewhere else, e.g their competitors. They are investing in you and so they want their investment back; d.o.u.b.l.e.d.

Some companies do not implement this work back agreements and usually just put a prevention clause in place, that you may not work for a competitor within a certain period of time after you leaving the company; semi understandable if the time constraint is acceptable.

Work back agreements can take various shapes and forms, some say that once you become an actual buyer, you need to work back all the years of training and it can take up to 2 years to become a second level buyer, so you are not even a senior buyer at this stage. It will begin to feel like you are stuck, that you cannot leave and if you do...they will take everything you worked so hard for.

Bottom line is that the company wants their investment in you to stay put, there is usually a period of 6/7 months whereby you can freely leave in the beginning, but over and above that period you are stuck like velcro. If you choose to leave, you will need to pay back all your training costs and your accumulated salary back to the company - no matter what training they supplied (could be very little, for example, shadowing a real buyer is not necessarily training, it is shadowing that person so that you can learn from them, fully fledged buyers do not get paid extra money to take you on as a trainee). So as for the training costs, the company will probably come up with some ridiculous amount of money that needs to be paid back to them and when you ask for a breakdown as to how they came to this amount, well ...there is no breakdown. It is their way of catching you in their develish and greedy web and it is a scary web, its a huge company with a huge reputable name against little old you.

I am not even sure, if the whole work back agreement is legit, well it must be because companies need to follow legal procedures, but the fact is that it is a form of bullying you and sapping you of all you have by using intimidation and signature/contract control techniques to get you to stay.

Without going into to much detail, make sure you check the following points.

• If you are not sure that buying and planning is for you in the first place, the last thing you want is to be stuck with a company, miserable or leaving and paying them back everything you earned.
• Make sure you read the fine print and understand what you are signing from the start
• Ask questions and then ask more questions
• If you are brilliant; why not challenge them and say that you will not sign, it is a risk but if you have the ball's ...go for it
• Do not be overwhelmed by the glamour and glitz, if it sux...you are going to be stuck and miserable, chances are you are just starting out and would never be able to pay back a company because you wanted out.
• Don't let them bully you
• Speak to a lawyer and get them to look at the agreement, remember it is an agreement, if you did not receive adequate training (courses, development sessions, manuals,...) then you didn't get trained so the agreement becomes void because most work back agreements agree to train you to perform. Also, question the training you received, was it all in house? , did they fly you somewhere? did they pay for lectures and practical sessions? 
• I am in full agreement that if a company spends money on you and your development and you decide to bail for greener pastures with the wealth of information imparted to you, well then you owe them.

Just don;t get starry eyed and say you will worry about it later, ask yourself the questions that matter and don't get stuck in the corporate web.

Good luck to all the trainees out there, i hope you keep your head screwed on, your eyes on the prize and steady on your stilletto's.

European Door Art

I started a fascination with beautiful ornate doors when I moved to Europe, through my travels this year, I was able to find and capture some amazing pieces of what I call an art form.

From Ibiza, to Prague, Sweden to Paris, Barcelona to Poland... each door has a story to tell...

SUSPENSION of life.. Prague

As a walked through the intertwining pathways in the heat of the European sun, my tour guide rambled on about King Charles the fourth...my mind drifted and  I couldn't help but have a big smile on my face...

How good is this? I said to the Italian that had joined us... and I will never forget his words as he fumbled to find the right way to say what he felt..." It its ...suspension of life" I asked what he meant already knowing the answer but wanting to hear him explain in his slightly broken English. Its life, but the suspended one, it takes you higher, a little faster and the view is better. I could not agree more.

Life in itself is a blessing , but when life is better than good... I am suspended, and by suspended I by no means restrained, if anything I am lifted to a euphoric state, absorbing the pleasures of my state, knowing that it will settle back down and this can't last forever.

Prague was my Suspension of Life

Winding street, cobblestones creating click clack noise as the cars and hooves of horses clamber onwards, the smell of beer, the castle shadowing the city, the coolness of the air as you walk over Charles Bridge and see the shimmer on the Vltava river, you so badly want to dip into it and really submerse yourself in this jewel of a city.

The river is crossed by 18 bridges but the most fascinating would have to be Charles bridge, at each section there are sculptures, some speak of horror, others of delight but the bridge in all its glory is a tourist haven.

In the four days I was there, I managed to cram enough to walk away and feel pleased and satisfied with my endeavours but still feel relaxed.

Our first day was a walk along the bridge as the sun set, a hot air balloon sweeped the skyline, the water still, and the eve palmy...it was an exceptional start and welcome.

A delicious Italian meal with some spectacular wine set off my visit into a great culinary experience. Prague like other Northern european cities are known for their starch based meals, cabbage, pork, dumping, meat and beer. Not exactly my idea of indulgence but dig in and you will find it all too pleasing.

If I made a list of what needs to be seen and you must do: this is it

• a beautiful eve deserves a beautiful view, go up to Petrin hill by tram, pack a picnic or jut grab a beer at the garden cafe, go up Pragues baby version of the Eiffel tower and get an al round view of Prague, take a stroll down, as the walk is short
• Charles bridge; just go and maybe get a sketch done
• Vltava river paddle, grab a paddle boat in the early morn or late afternoon especially in summer for 120 czech per boat and that gives you an hour which is just enough
• Thai massage, if you are feeling the burn and your feet are crying out after all the waling, grab a thai foot massage, short but effective
• A vintage ride through the city is a must, we got a Jerry, an enthusiastic and accommodating driver. We were picked up outside our hotel in a red vintage, champagne awaiting , as we swirled through the streets our first stop was the ...
• John Lennon wall represents freedom, it was started by the youths of the city and still carries on today, Original graphic art is long gone but every few years new ones are sprayed, truly something to see
• A stone throw away from the Lennon wall is the love lock bridge, I try and find one of these every place I go, Poland, Paris and now Prague. Grab a lock, write you and your loved ones name in, try and find a spot to lock it and then throw the key in the stream, now ur in love forever
• Avoid Kampa restaurant, over priced and the service is terrible, try Minstral Cafe for their goats cheese salad or The School for an awesome Ceaser salad or Arrabiata pasta...awesome!!!!
• Try an old pub, great spots just below the castle, grab a traditional czech beer and avoid the Pilsner, you wont regret it. A meat platter is also a great idea.
• Tour of the castle and surrounding areas is  a great way to get some history behind this amazing city, we got the four hour one which was adequate by a long shot
• The castle is a must see
• All over the city you will find some great art, look out for works by the controversial, David Cerny, the revolvers are my favourite
• I tried the fruit dumplings but if you don't like doughy foods, avoid avoid avoid
• Inferno restaurant was a highlight, Angelina and Brad have been here for dinner :) Summer months it is quiet, we almost had the whole restaurant to ourselves. TRY the duck....wow, the romantic moody colours combined with the cave walls create an intense atmosphere but in a good way
• p.s Don't get ripped off by a taxi, always check there is a meter or negotiate, they are dodgy
• The astronomical clock...enough said
• A drink out, go to the James Dean bar r just wander the street, your gonna get dragged i somewhere amazing, and go balls to the wall and have yourself a absinth

Graffitti

Quite a view on the hill of the castle

Minstral cafe...fantastic

Absinth :)

Our little vintage ride

A birthday dinner at the castle

So basically what I am trying to say is GET YOUR ASS TO PRAGUE, and experience a holiday like no other. It is affordable by European standards, beautiful and well, its just gonna steal your heart.

a Meat platter at a local pub

red roses in the Kings garden

The astronomical clock

John Lennon wall

A Ceaser salad at The School

Easy Come ...Easy Go

The next little chapter in my book of Copenhagen is coming up and I am quite eager to turn that page, It has been almost and nearly a year since I landed my feet on the rainy sidewalks of Copenhagen and wondered if everyday was going to be this miserable. As I type this post, the sun is shining and life is good.

After staying in Hellerup since I got here, I have been fortunate enough to wander a forest, walk the promenade, dip into the ocean and run sand through my hands, the area has hosted us well, but now it is time for change and a bit more of the city life and hustle and bustle I am now so ready for (and for shorter commutes)

Finding an apartment in Copenhagen is no easy task, especially when you reply to a posting in english, the lack of response almost gets to you a bit more than it should. After lots of potential apartments but very few viewings, we opted to go for fully furnished even though we have all our own furniture, simply because these kinds of apartments cater for the expat community.

So my new apartment overlooks a beautiful park with a lake, I can just see my lazy Sunday mornings taking place there

So here is to some change, a new home, a bigger social life and a LOT LESS WALKING and commuting.

Three Sisters

I am blessed to have two sisters in my life, we are all five years apart and due to the big gaps, my middle sister and me (the baby) had more of a childhood together than me and my older sister, by the time I was  ready to be of age to have a drink, my sister was already far away.

So, when the opportunity to live in Europe arrived, all I could think of was that my sister would be a short flight away in the UK, many trips to London later...my sister booked her flight to visit me...excitement!!!

This was my first and probably my last visitor in Copenhagen ever. (Not exactly on everyone's top list destination list even though I beg) I even have a spare guest bedroom in my apartment, and while I  have a tTV dinner every night on my couch, for lack of a dining room table, the guest bedroom with the double bed gathers dust. So finally I have a visitor!!

So in the weeks leading up to my special guests arrival I made a list of what to do see, and eat. It wasn't very long. I thought I had seen quite a bit but knew I must be missing a few gems, yet when I went on travel sights , well there really was nothing I had not seen in Copenhagen.

So the Friday started off the the Saviour church for a view of the city , a fallafel in Christiana, and a hotdog along Stroget, with a drink to wash it all down in Nyhavn (and the weather behaved itself)

Friday night we ate at Spiseri, not the best neighbourhood, but worth the trek. Food is fresh, and made with love and passion, strongly recommend it.

Saturday we were up with tired bodies, and swollen feet but eager to start the day, and we did it grandly... shopping on Stroget started us off till eventually we had to sit down. Sale time here is great and some great bargains can be found.

(My necklace in the pic above was 20 dkk, and my hat 45dkk on sale)

We had a light lunch at Cafe River, and made our way to Rosenborg castle

Saturday night we were back at the apartment and eager to all have a catnap but we had a dinner booking and so we were off again, Dinner at The Cave...delicious!!! Just before we arrived there was a tango class and a man on stilts just above Kongens Nytorv...very entertaining

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Just round the corner, there was jazz playing (Jazz festival week in Copenhagen)


After dinner we took our bikes, well my sister took mine ad I grabbed a ride on the back like a lady (two legs on one side) and we rode through Kongens have, to the mermaid, saw the canons, crossed the moat...perfect eve.

back home it was a midnight delight with cupcakes from Serenity

And the Sunday morning, we woke up (of course) bacon was in the pan and french toast buttery golden and deliciousness all ready on the plates, bellies filled and minds alerts..we were off for a cycle along the beach to Klampenborg.

A cappucino and pecan pie at cafe jorden rundt put a smile on our faces, and we cycled back through the forest home.

An excellent weekend, beautiful weather, me and my sister...and so many memories made, all in a weekend.